The Three Tuns was situated at 157 High Street. This pub is now used as a
restaurant.

David Bowie was still a long way from
superstar status, despite having been in the music business for several
years. He was living in Beckenham with a friend Mary Finnigan, and appearing
most Sundays at The Three Tuns pub in Beckenham High Street.
The shows began as a way for him and Mary to make a little money and to
showcase his talents, but developed into what was christened the Beckenham
Arts Lab "Growth".
Bowie went on to fame and fortune but it was not until 2001 that a plaque
commemorating his involvement with the town was hung outside the pub that
was by now known as The Rat and Parrot.
The pub changed it's name to The Rat and Parrot in the late 90s then
changing back to the Three Tuns just before it shut again and became a Pizza
Restaurant. During the development the plaque was taken down and it took
another four years to get it reinstated.

Ian Muir (February 2012)

Correction to Ian Muir's description. The Folk
Club started by David Bowie and I happened every Sunday. It morphed into the
Beckenham Arts Lab by popular request. Became a Folk Club again after I was
no longer involved. David gave up on it because he became disillusioned with
the clientele -- who he said, only wanted to be entertained. A damp squib
after the idealistic intensity of the Arts Lab.

Mary Finnigan (May 2015)

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Other Photos

Picture source: Darkstar

Contacts

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I was David Bowies first guest artist at the
opening night. I still have the poster though history seems to have
forgotten my name, they were some of David's great performances. I
remember Mary Finnegan well but don't remember Angie.